Chapter 30 :: A Master no More
"You can talk again," observed Kratos. He immediately noticed that Mithos looked paler than usual, perhaps because the crystal was feeding of his mana while he rested."Give me the final test, so I will be free from your apprenticeship. I am ready for this," Mithos requested.
"You are right. There is not much left I can teach you in the art of the sword," Kratos said. He pointed down to the fields where the test would take place. "This time, I will not hold back."
"I understand, neither will I," Mithos replied.
"We shall settle this with two Divine Storm Blades. No crystal magic," Kratos said.
"All right," Mithos answered. Teacher and student stood on opposite ends of the plain.
"Do you understand what it means when you defeat me? You will have mastered the most potent form of swordsmanship, passed on by my master to me."
"Yes."
"Then there is no point in delaying. Divine Storm Blade!"
"Divine Storm Blade!"
Like their exercise at the beginning of the journey, both sprinted forward at a blinding speed. Their feet barely touched the frost covered grass before moving again. Kratos saw Mithos coming and readied to block.
You must continue that which I have taught you into the next generation. Kratos thought. The two swords smashed against each other for what seemed like an eternity, determining the outcome of the duel. Kratos' sword gave way, thrown to the opposite end of the field. At that moment, Mithos sheathed his sword.
"Master," Mithos said.
"A master no more," Kratos replied. "You are now the rightful successor of the holy sword. However..."
"What is it, Kratos?" Mithos asked.
"Do not forget that there is still darkness within you. Let this be my final lesson to you, not as a teacher to a student, but as one swordsman to another. If you cannot control your darkness and your anger, you are not invincible. You still stand to be defeated by someone who has a strong will," Kratos said.
"Which is why I will use what you've taught me to rid the world of all darkness," Mithos said.
"The day's finally here when we strike back at Erebus," Yuan said at the camp later that day. Assembled above was the largest fleet of airships ever brought together, mainly Deathcarriers with makeshift elemental fusion reactors.
"Lord Yuan, Kratos, you probably need these," Kepler said. In each hand was an Angel Crystal bonded to a gold crest.
"These cursed things?" Yuan said.
"Without them you will never match Erebus' power," said Kepler.
"Yuan, despite what happened to Alice..." Mithos said.
"I know." Yuan took the crystal and placed on his hand. A pair of blue translucent wings sprouted from his back. "Alice would have wanted us to defeat Erebus."
"Will this work on a human?" asked Kratos, cautiously placing it on his hand.
"Cornelius tested crystals on several humans perfectly, so it should work," answered Kepler.
"I have assembled the other dragons and Darius has rallied the airships with him. Are you ready, Mithos?" Solstice landed in the center of the camp as a dragon.
"Let's take this fight to Erebus," Mithos said. He mounted Solstice first with Yuan and Kratos behind. The Zephyr and the Trident flew beside them while their eight Rheairds protected the air above Solstice.
"Hold on, everyone!" Solstice warned. He broke ahead of the airships, reaching supersonic speed instantly. With the sun at their backs, they approached the eastern horizon that glowed with an eerie purple hue.